Implementing location awareness in WLAN devices

Abstract

An ambient country identifier (ACI) signal can be used to automatically provide location awareness for a WLAN device. If an ACI signal is detected, then the WLAN device can configure itself to comply with channel and power settings for the country having the detected ACI signal. After detection of the ACI signal, the WLAN device can be “locked” to the country having that ACI signal, thereby ensuring legal operation of the WLAN device even after subsequent restarts. If an ACI signal is not detected, then the WLAN device can be configured in a default mode, e.g. an “open mode” in which end users can configure the WLAN device by entering a country of operation or a “common mode” in which the channel and transmit power settings meet global spectrum usage requirements.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 550,000, entitled “System And Method For Communication” filed Mar. 3, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to wireless local area network (WLAN) devices and in particular to implementing location awareness in such WLAN devices.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Wireless local area networks (WLANs) are becoming increasingly popular as communication networks in many countries. Different countries can have different channel restrictions and / or power requirements for WLAN operation. To receive a certification from a country's spectrum regulator, e.g. the FCC in the U.S., a manufacturer must ensure that its WLAN devices can be configured to operate in the correct channel and power setting for that country. Allowing certification of frequency-selectable WLAN devices, thereby allowing a WLAN device to be configured for ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention relates to a method and device for automatically identifying the location of a WLAN device using an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal. The ACI signal can be detected by the WLAN device and used to configure itself for operation in the country where the ACI signal is detected. This allows the WLAN device to automatically adjust its channel and power settings for the country without needing user intervention. The WLAN device can also periodically recheck the ACI signal to ensure it is still in use. The technical effect of this invention is to improve the reliability and accuracy of location awareness for WLAN devices in various environments.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, configuring a frequency-selectable WLAN device may be too tedious, time consuming, and / or challenging for end users to perform, thereby potentially resulting in the WLAN device operating on an illegal channel or at an illegal power level.

However, end users wishing to enable operation across a larger number of channels than legally allowed may opt to use an alternate country setting in the access point that will enable operation in additional channels at higher, but illegal, transmit power levels.

Additionally, illegally imported access points may operate on channels that are illegal in the country of operation.

Thus, if an access point is not configured to transmit the correct country information (whether intentionally or unintentionally), then not only the access point but also its associated clients may operate on channels illegal in the country of operation.

However, from a vendor's perspective, more “stock kit units” (SKUs), i.e. different versions of a product, are typically undesirable.

Because GPS signals are transmitted at much lower frequencies than WLAN devices currently use, the access point would require a separate receive antenna for the GPS signals, thereby increasing the cost of the access point.

Moreover, GPS signals may not be received reliably indoors, which is where an access point is typically located.

Therefore, a GPS solution is undesirably both expensive and complex.

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